Surgical instrument



Jan. 22, 1946.. H, FREEIDMAN A 2,393,319

l SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March :51, 194s ql. Taqz- IN VEN TOR.J'lj/Ynan Fre ealmqn Patented Jari. l22, 1946 y UNITED STATES? PATENTorrlcl?.vv

2,393,319Y SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Hyman Freedman, New York, N. Y., assignorof one-half vto BerthafFreedman, New York, N. Y.

v'Application `March 31, 1943, Serial No.. 481,245

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in surgical instruments and hasparticular reference to 4an appliance employed for diagnostic purposes,such as indentistrydy Y A Y vThe use of a mirror in conducting examina-rtions of the oral cavity haslong beenrstandard practice in the dentalart and, as long as this procedure has existed, one of the dilcultiesthereof has been caused by fogging of the mirror dental drill is used,Heretofore, because of thev lack of a single instrument toaccomplish amirror examination and cleansing operation concul'-, rently andthe factthat the dentist has only two hands to work with, it has not beenpossible to perform any. other operation while employing the mirror andclearing the affected area with va spray.

In accordance Wahine present invention, it is proposed to overcome theabove diiliculties by the provision of a novel instrument of practicalcon-y struction eapable of manipulation with' one hand and by means ofwhichtheA cleansing and examination of an alected area* may beaccomplished with the absolute avoidance af la misting or fogging of themirror forming' a part offsald instrument, thereby enabling theperformance of other operations and the concurrent and clear observanceof. the results thereof.

.More specically, the invention contemplates V4,0 current to a source ofillumination, such as the an instrument wherein a fluid injector tubesupports and is so arranged with respect toa mirror that fluid mayv besprayed in proximity 'to Yor away from the reflectingv surface of saidmirror and toward an affected area in such manner.

that the latter will be thoroughly cleansedand the breath ofthe patientwill be prevented from logging the mirrorfr A A further feature residesin mounting the injector tube and mirrory upon a saliva ejectormouthpiece and containing within'the latter a source of illumination therays of-llght from ywhich will be reflected by said mirror onto the partbeing examined, with said mouthpiece being so disposed relative to theorice vofthe injector tube that the fluid, after impingingagainst theaiected area, will be drawn, lhy's'uction, into said mouthpiece andaround said source of illumination so as to materially reduceits'temperature and thus avoid possible injury totheftissues 5 of theLmouth.

The inventive ideav involved is capable of receiving a variety ofmechanical expressions one of which, for purposes vof illustration, isshown in the accompanying drawing; but it is to be ex- Vpresslyvunderstood that said drawing is used only I for the purpose offacilitatingthe description of the invention vas a whole and not'to"limit, the

scope thereof, reference being had to cheap` pended claims for thispurpose.

l5 `In the drawing:

Fig. y1 is an elevational view of a surgical vinstrument constructed inaccordance with the present` invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section through theinstrument.

Fig. -3 is ya further enlarged section taken through a portion oftheinjector tube and the mirror mounted thereon.

Fig.` 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig.`5 is asimilar section `on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.y Y

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral l0indicates, generally,

an ejector tube which is constructed in a somewhat similar manner tothe' ejector tube showny in my patent dated September 9, 1941, andbearing #2,255,657. Said tube l0 comprises two longitudinal sections IVIeach of semi-circular for- -mationrin cross section and provided withinturned flanges l2 along their edges that are opposed to each otherwhen the sections are assembled. Thesesections, as in said patent, areVutilized as electrical conductors for supplying small g incandescentlamp I3 supported by. said tube by the insertion of the wires Hof thelamp into the socketsv l5 formed at one end of the tube interiorly.thereof,` Before the sections H V4.5 are assembled to form the tube, thegreater por,-

tions of the lengths thereof 'are suitably coatedv with a covering I6 ofinsulating material on both the inner and outer surfaces of thesections. The outercovering of insulation extends to a point short ofthe lower ends of the sections so -of the tube mounting I8, and eachengaging one thereon and engaged with a collar 23 to properly positionthe sleeve on the tube so that the former l will extend above the upperend of the tube and' enclose the lamp i3, there being a orosswire 2-4adjacent the outer end of saidsleeve that en.-

gages the free end of the lampto hold the latter steady and prevent itscontact with' said sleeve. This sleeve acts as a mouthpiece to beinsertedl into the oral cavity sov as to draw saliva from the doorthereof when suctionis created' in the' tube I'fiand hose I9' in theusual manner.

'Adjacent the lower endi of* the removable: sleeve 22' thesame hasformed" integrally therewith a mounting 25 having upper and lowerreduced extensions 2 6 and 21;, respectively, with a duct 28extendingthrough the latter4 and' said mountingv for a purpose; whichjwilll appear. The extension 21 has two branches 29 to one of which isattached an' air hose 3D while a water hose 3|r is connected tothe otherbranch. Theseh'oses are connected to suitable sources of supply (notshown) from which air or water may be injected into the duct 28, atwill. The extension 26 is adapted to receive thereon the socket 32 ofthe removable injector tube 33 which' extends4 alongside of and beyondthe outer endY ofi the sleeve 212. At its outer end, the tube 33 is bentat anV angle to the ma-inportion thereof and saidbent end` is again bentto form a nozzlel 34 having an orice 35 therein extending at such anoblique-angle-to-the long-itudinalaxis of the nozzle that the spray fromthe latter will be directed at substantially right ang-les to th'estemor mainportion ofthe injector tube and across the inlet endof theejectortube.` Said nozzle is externally screw threaded for receiving thereonthe demountable mirror-.36 having an. aperture therein through which--said nozzle projects with the outer extremityof the-nozzle-substantiallyinth'e pla-ne of the-mirror, the backing 381` of' said mirror beingprovided with a threaded hub-39 engageable with thethreadslot saidnozzle.- The angle of the-noz- 21e-with! respect-tothe adjacent orinlet end of theV sleeve 22 iissuch that when the mirror isinpositions-it is disposed obliquely to saidmain portion of:thelinjectortube so-that itsreecting surface` will? substantially facethe inlet end of the ejector-.tube formed bythe-sleeve 221, and therays.

of.` light from the lampV I3. mounted'in said sleevev wills bereflected-in the proper direction fori eX- am-ination of an vad'ected'area, and-l the spray of ei-th'erairl or waterV will be properly'directed to'- ward'. said area. for cleansing purposes. -Also, therelationship between said nozzle and the` inlet endroi the-sleeve22issuch that the spray of air or water-from. theunozzle, afterimpinging against a .tooth or the like will befwithinueffective range ofsaid inletend so as'to be drawn into the ejector tube:when-.a1v suctionis created therein. Whenair isthus injected; and ejected, the oral?cavity will be-effectively cleared of. fog which would otherwiseimpairthe.` reflecting, surface of the mirror.-

When water is injected` andi. subsequentlyv drawn:

into-.thea sleeve 2.2-, it willi contact and pass around the lamp l 3and thus aid materially in reducing its temperature so that the heattherefrom will have no injurious effect upon the tissues of the mouth.Also, when conducting an examination with the mirror, a jet of airinjected through the nozzle in a direction away from the reiiectingsurface of the mirror will avoid all tendency of the latter becomingfogged by the breath of the patient, thus eliminatingnthe.necessity ofconstantly withdrawing themirror to clear the same.

What is claimed is: 1'. In a surgical instrument, an ejector tube, asleeve supported on one end thereof and forming an inlet for said tube,a source of illumination carried by saldi sleeve,A a mounting aifixed toone of the first two named elements, an injector tube removablysupported on said mounting and having anozzle at its outer end, and amirror through which said nozzle extends, carried by said injector tubeat an oblique angle thereto and with the-reecting-isurface-ofsaid mirroradjacent and substantially facing the outer end of saidsleeve.

2-. A surgical instrument comprising, a mirror and a substantiallyhollow supporting member l having-an-openA end-portion adapted forconnectionV withfla fluid supply, anda closed end portion, an openingformedfinthe wall of the closed end portionadjacent the endi thereof,the longitudinal axis ofsa-i'd opening' being normal to the longi-Atudi-'n-al axis ofsaid openendportion, and means formounting said'mirror' onsaid closed end portion, said` mirror being disposed ina planenormal? tothe longitudinal axis of said closed. end portionand-non-parallel toi the longitudinal axis of-saidl open endportion.

31. A surgicall instrument comprising, a mirror andi` a substantiallyhollowy supporting member havinganoperr end portion adapted forconnection witha-uid' supply and a. closed end portion, anA opening:formed inthe `wall of the closed end portion: adjacentrthe. end thereof,and means for mountingsaidi mirror on. said closed end portion, thereiiectingi surface ofi saidmirror lying inv a plane:` substantiallyInormal to: the longitudinal iaxis'. oisaidLclosedflend; portion andnon-parallel tothe longitudinal. axis of;` said; open end portion, theclosed end of said closed end portion lyingsubstantially im the-planeaof. said reflecting surface; and the-i orificel of said opening: beingdisposed: at. an Langles toa said' reiiecting. surface..

4*.. A surgicaliinstrumentas. dend in. claim 3, said: mirronhavinea-.fcircul'arr pron-le and being mounted on sai closed.; end: portion inco-axial alig-I-nnent"therewitlf'r.-

5.; Agsurgical-f instrument comprising, a. mirror havinggacircularprofile-'and a substantially hollow; supporting; member therefor,A saidsupporting member comprising an openend portion adapted for connectionwith: a'iuid supply and a closed end portion: and means; fordetachablymounting said, mirror, om saidi closed'. endportion adjacent the closed,end thereofj a-ndainf co-axia-l alignment therewitln, thereect-ingsurface of said, mirror lying-ina, plane substantially-,normal-to-` the longitudinal:axis4 of saidI closed endi portionandnonpara-lglel-v to,- thel longitudinal a-Xis; of. said openv endportion, the closed end ofk said closed endV portion; being, disposedsubstantially inthe plane of said- Areiiecting` surface, and the orificeof said opening. being disposed at' a-nacute angle with respecttosadgreflecting surface;

6. surgical; ,ir-istrument.Y comprising, a mirror and, 2;-substantialflyhollow supporting member therefor; said; supporting.vmember confrprising:anA

-. open; endportiom'adaptedz for. connection` with. a

uid supply, an intermediate portion whose `lon-- gitudinal axis isdisposed at an angle' with respect to the longitudinal axis of said openend portion, and aV closed` end portion whose longitudinal axis isdisposed normally with respect to the longitudinal axis of saidintermediate portion, said mirror having a transversely extendingcentrally disposed aperture formed therein adapted to receive the closedend of said closed end portion, means for detachably mounting saidmirror on said closed end portion, the reflecting surface of said mirrorbeing disposed in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said closedend portion and non-parallel ,to said open end portion, an openingformed in the wall of said closed end portion at a point substantiallysaid closed end, the longitudinal axis of said opening being disposed atright angles to the longitudinal axis of said open end portion.

7. A surgical instrument comprising, a mirror, a substantially hollowsupporting member therefor, a substantially hollow handle member andmeans for securing said supporting member on said handle member, saidsupporting member having an open end portion adapted for connection witha fluid supply and a closed end portion having an opening formed in thewall thereof adjacent the terminal end thereof, means for adjacentmounting said mirror on said closed end portion, the reflecting surfaceof said mirror being dise posed in a plane normal to the longitudinalaxis of said closed end portion and non-parallel to the longitudinalaxis of said open end portion, said opening having a longitudinal axisdisposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said open endportion, saidhandle member having an open end disposed adjacent thereecting surface of said mirror, the other end of said handle memberbeing adapted for connection with suction means.

8. A surgical instrument as defined in claim 7, and valve means forcontrolling the admission of said uid supply to said open end portion ofsaid supporting member. f

9. A surgical instrument as defined in claim '1, and a source of lightdisposed in said handle portion adjacent the open end thereof.

10. A surgical instrument as defined in claim 7, valve means forcontrolling the admission of said iluid supply to said open end portionof said supporting member, a source of light disposed in said handlemember adjacent the open end thereof, and means for supporting saidlight in spaced relationship with respect to the inner wall surface ofsaid handle member.

HYMAN FREEDMAN.

